ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI - Pakistan condemned late on Sunday the Indian government's decision to declare two officials of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi as persona non grata requiring them to leave India within 24 hours.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement that the Indian action has been accompanied by a "negative pre-planned and orchestrated media campaign, which is a part of persistent anti-Pakistan propaganda"

"The government has declared both these officials persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked them to leave the country within 24 hours," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

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The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement that the Indian action has been accompanied by a "negative pre-planned and orchestrated media campaign, which is a part of persistent anti-Pakistan propaganda."

"Pakistan's Charge de Affaires was issued a demarche in which a strong protest was lodged with regard to the activities of these officials of the High Commission of Pakistan against India's national security," reads the statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. 
The Pakistani ministry in a statement that the two staff members had been picked up by the Indian authorities on Sunday on "false and unsubstantiated charges."

"They were, however, released on intervention by the High Commission. We condemn the detention and torture as well as threatening and pressuring of the diplomatic officials to accept false charges," the Pakistani statement reads.

Pakistan strongly rejected the baseless Indian allegations and deplores their action which is in clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct.

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"The High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi has always worked within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms. The Indian action is clearly aimed at shrinking diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission."